Assembly jig



F. K. COLLINS ASSEMBLY J IG Oct, 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed July 1,1957 INVENTOR; FLOYD K. COLLINS ATTORNEY ASSEMBLY no Floyd K. Collins,Seneca Falls, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sylvania ElectricProducts Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 1,1957, Ser. No. 669,153

'3 Claims. (Cl. 269-124) This invention relates to assembly devices andmore particularly to assembly jigs of the type. adapted to be employedin the fabrication of cathode ray tube mounts. 'A conventional cathoderay tube utilizes an electron gun structure which generally comprises aplurality of longitudinally arrayed spaced electrodes mounted inposition relative to one another by either glass or ceramic side rods.During the mounting operation, these electrodes are usually maintainedin alignment by a jig having a rotatably mounted cover and a recessdefined by a tubular body portion. Several spacers are sometimesdisposed within the recess and between, for instance, the cathode andfirst grid electrodes, to provide appropriate spacing of thesecomponents from one another. This type of jig is generally notacceptable for use with a mount of the type employing electrodes havingvariations in diameters or lateral dimensions and having configurationsother than straight cylinders. In addition, such a jig does not providesufficient spacing versatility for present man- "ufacturingrequirements, nor does it provide satisfactory means for holding andaligning the parts so that a rigidly aligned electrode assembly can befabricated.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to reduce the aforementioneddisadvantages and to improve the fabrication of cathode ray tube mounts.

A further object is the provision of an assemblage of electrodes havingproperly aligned components correctly spaced from one another andmounted together in a rigid structure, and improved means foraccomplishing the manufacture of such an assembly.

The foregoing objects are achieved in one aspect of the invention by theprovision of an assembly jig employing spacing and aligning segments forthe components and a cover member adapted to cooperate with the bodyportion of the jig to rigidly hold the electrodes relative to oneanother during the assembly operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a cathode ray tube electrode assembly of the typeadapted to be fabricated with the device shown in Fig. 1;

" Fig. 3 is a plan view of the jig shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a front view of the jig shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a cathode ray tube gun structure assembly jigis shown in one embodiment of the invention as comprising a body portion11 having a 010- sure member 13 pivotally connected thereto forfacilitatbe employed with an automatic machine for assemblying theelectrodes 14 to form a structure such as is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

herein is also applicable to jigs employed in the fabrication of anelectrode assembly having two positions or more than three positionswhereat the electrodes 14 are to be supported.

Fig. 2 illustrates an electrostatic focusing type electrode mount 18having a plurality of electrodes 14 spaced from one another and alignedin a longitudinal array. These electrodes are supported relative to oneanother by means of radially disposed substantially equally spacedstuds, 25 which are embedded in glass rods 27. Since some of theelectrodes have lateral dimensions and configurations different fromothers, the profile of the electrode mount is non-linear. In order toproperly align and position such an array of electrodes, a plurality ofappropriately shaped and positioned segments 29, which are mounted uponthe interior surface of frame sections 23, are used.

During the assembly operation, the hinged closure member 13 is openedand electrodes 14 are placed into their correct nesting positions withone stud 25 extending intermediate the spaced frame sections 23, seeFig. 4. The closure member is then pivoted to the closed position andlocking devices 15 are rotated to secure member 13 to body 11. Duringthe closing operation, the edges of segments 29 in the closure membercontact studs 25 so that the electrodes are automatically rotationallyoriented relative to one another. This operation causes each stud at agiven radial location on the electrodes to be rigidly positioned inlongitudinal alignment with the associated studs on the otherelectrodes. The glass rod 27, which had been plasticized by any type ofconventional beading machine, is then moved to a position where thestuds become embedded in the glass. The jig may then be rotated aboutits own longitudinal axis until another group of studs are exposed tothe beading machine and the glass beading operation is subsequentlyrepeated. Three such operations would be used to fabricate. an assemblyof the type shown. However, the invention described herein is alsoapplicable to construct an electrode mount employing more or less thanthree studs. Also, other types of support rods may be used, if desired.For instance, the electrodes may be provided with straps or pins whichare formed to be Welded to a rod having a form similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 2 as rod 27. After completion of the assembly,locking devices 15 are rotated to the release'position and closuremember 13 is pivoted away from body portion 11. The electrode mount maythen be removed from the jig since the opening opposite the closuremember between spaced frame sections 23 allows the assembly rod 27 topass therethrough.

It can be seen that electrodes 14 are nested within the surface definedby segments 29. These segments, which are arranged longitudinally, maybe formed as a continuous surface from their respective support frames,or they may be constructed as a plurality of pieces to provide a surfacewhich substantially conforms to the profile of the electrode mount. Itis advantageous to use individual segments 29 which conform to at leasta portion of each surface of the profile since they may then beseparately mounted upon their respective support frames by anyconvenient means such as by screws 31, Fig. 1. This type of constructionhas advantages since openings 33 may be made oversized or elongated tofacilitate longitudinal adjustment of the segments 29 relative to theirrespective supports 23. A continuous slot extending along the length ofthe support frames may be used instead of openings 33, if desired.Therefore,

electrodes having different lengths and different spacings can behandled by the jig with proper spacing adjustment of the segments. ifdesired, yieldable positioning means such as spring-loaded ball bearingsmay be mounted upon the peripheral surface of segments 29 to press. uponelectrodes 14 and. thereby providevwmpens sating means which accountsfor variations in the diameters or lateral dimensions of these parts.

The segments 29 provide a nesting surface for properly aligning andpositioning electrodes 14 relative to one another, and for spacing anumber of the electrodes from one, another. HoWever,-When an electrodemount of thetype illustrated by the numeral 1? is employed, it has beenfound that the use of rotatably mounted spacers 35 and 37 has advantagesdue to the longitudinal configuration of the adjoining G and Gelectrodes and the bias-cut relationship between the G and A electrodes.These spacers are loosely held upon one of the body portion framesections 23 by pin 39 in such a. manner as to allow movement of thespacers longitudinally and rotatably relative to sections 23,transversely relative to sections 23, and rotatably, in a limited'manner, relative to a pivot point located on pin 29. This type of spacermounting is accomplished with the provision of apertures in the spacerswhich are larger; than the diameter of the pin 3h which passestherethrough. Accordingly, due to the loose spacer mounting, theelectrode structure can be easily removed from the. jig after assemblywithout any binding action on the G G and A electrodes. The utilizationof one or! more loosely mounted spacers isalso applicable to jigs,employed in the fabrication of electrode mounts which do not use a biascut.

Disposed at one end of frame sections 23 is a cylinder 21 having acut-out portion 41 formed in the external surface thereof to receive theend of closure member 1321s will be hereafter described. Disposedopposite to cylinder 21 is a barrel 19, which has a lateral slot 43formed therein to receive resilient biasing means or spring 45. Thespring has a knuckle 47 which is normally disposed within opening. 49inthe barrel to operate on closure member 13. A bar or pin 51 is threadedthrough aperture 53 in the barrel and elongated opening 55 in theclosure member to rotatably attachor hinge member 13 to the barrel.

Closure member 13 comprises a frame section 23'with segments 29 mountedthereon by means of the screws 31, which are disposed within theopenings '33. A hinge tooth 59 extending from section 23 is positionedwithin the barrel opening 49 and is maintained therein by means of bar51. Hinge tooth may be provided with an upper surface which is beveled,if desired, to cooperate with its associated locking device as will behereafter described. The resilient knuckle 47 operates on the lowersurface or" the tooth to impart thereto a bias which is transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the jig. Disposed opposite to tooth 59 onclosure frame section 23 is a tongue 61 having a beveled surface 63.When closure member 13 is rotated to the closed position, tongue 61becomes seated within cut-out 41 in cylinder 21. 7

Locking devices 15 are rotatably mounted on barrel 19 and cylinder 21 byvirtue of the slidable engagement between pins 65 and grooves 67, whichare formed circumferentially over. at least a portion of the, barrel andcylinder peripheral surfaces. Locking devices 15 are each provided witha tapered cam surface 69 formed to operate on tooth 59 and tongue. 61 tosecure closure member 13 to body portion 11 after the closure. memberhas been rotated int-o position. The end of. tooth 59 does not interferewith spring 45 during the pivoting action of the closure member since ittraverses an are within opening 49 which is behind the spring position.

Closure member 13 is mounted upon the body portion.

for rotative and transverse movement relative thereto 'vices 15 arerotated to cause earns 69 to operate on the upper surface of tooth 59and beveled surface 63 to provide a final transverse movement to theclosure member counter to the bias of spring 45. Such an arrangement isadvantageous since it allows the final pressure on electrodes 14 to beapplied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; ofiJtheelectrodes. In addition, this type of movement achieves rigidpositioning a e el ctro es' en. h h. here i a li ht. ar at in diameteror lateral, dimension of the electrodes from one assembly to another.When the locking devices are rotated to the release position, spring.45* causes closure member 13 to initially. move substantially transverseto the electrode assembly, thereby loosening the assembly for easyremoval from the jig.

Housing 17 is formed with braces 71 and a block 73 connected together tocircumscribe the jig and provide arigid support upon which thejig may berevolved. Cylinder 21 and block 73 are formed with internal open-- ingshaving enlarged cavities 75which serve tohouse and maintain helical,springs '78. These springs operate upon plungers 77, which arelongitudinally slidable within the openings in the block, cylinder andbarrel 19, to normally apply an inward pressure to the end ones of theelectrodes. Rods 79% are connected to plungers 77 at one extremity andto shafts $1 at the opposite extremity so that an outward force exertedupon the shafts will compress the springs and retract the plungers fromthe electrode contact position. A sleeve 83passes through an aperture inbrace 71 and is. rigidly aflixed to cylinder 21 at one point and to aturning plate 85 disposed outside of the brace. With this arrangement, aturning movement; of plate 35 will impart rotation to the jig. The platemay be shaped substantially as, an equilateral triangle so that rotationof the jig to the three appropriate glass rod assembly positions may beeasily achieved.

During the electrode loading and unloading. operations, shafts. 81 arepulled outwardly so that the plungers 77 are moved from the ends of theouter segments 29 and thereby to a non-interfering position from theelectrodes. After the electrodes 14 have been nested within theirassociated segments 2?, plungers 77 are allowedto move inwardly underthe influence of springs 78. The longitudinal pressure on the endelectrodes 14, which is imparted thereto by the plungers, aids in thealignment and spacing of the electrodes relative to one another. The jigmay then be revolved to the appropriate glass rod receiving positions bymeans of the rotation of plate 85.

An assembly jig constructed in accordance with this invention isadaptable for use with an automatic electrode mount assembly machinesince automatic means may be provided to operate, for instance, uponshaft 81 and plate 8510 align the electrodes androtate the jig in aproperly'timed sequence during the assembly operation.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed,'it will be apparenttothose skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe. scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly jig for cathode ray tube electrodes having a longitudinalaxis comprising a tubular body portion terminating at one end thereof ina cylinder and formed with nests for holding the tube electrodes, aclosure member having segments shaped and spaced in accordance with theprofile of the tube electrodes and means for loosely hinge connectingsaid closure memher to the body portion, biasing means mounted upon saidcylinder adjacent the hinge connection pressing against the closuremember after rotation thereof to a position of close proximity to saidelectrodes to bias the segments away from the electrodes, and a lockingdevice mounted on said cylinder formed to press against the cover memberand overcome the pressure of said biasing means to move said segmentssubstantially normal to the electrodes and into intimate contacttherewith.

2. An assembly jig for cathode ray tube electrodes having a longitudinalaxis comprising a tubular body portion terminating at one end thereof ina cylinder having a pin of given diameter attached thereto, said bodyportion being formed with nests for holding the tube electrodes, aclosure member having segments shaped and spaced in accordance with theprofile of v the tube electrodes and an elongated opening provided atone end thereof having a length larger than said pin diameter forloosely receiving the pin to hinge connect said closure member to thebody portion, a spring mounted upon said cylinder adjacent the hingeconnection pressing against the closure member after rotation thereof toa position of close proximity to said elec trodes for biasing thesegments away from the electrodes, and a rotatable locking devicemounted on said cylinder formed to press against the cover member andovercome the bias of said spring to move said segments substantiallynormal to and into intimate contact with the electrodes.

3. An assembly jig for cathode ray tube electrodes having a longitudinalaxis comprising a tubular body portion terminating at one end thereof ina cylinder having a pin of given diameter attached thereto, said bodyportion being formed With nests for holding the tube electrodes; aclosure member having longitudinally adjustable segments shaped andspaced in accordance with the profile of the tube electrodes, anelongated opening provided at one end of the closure member having alength larger than said pin diameter for loosely re ceiving the pin tohinge connect said closure member to the body portion, and a protrusionformed at the opposite end thereof; a spring mounted upon said cylinderadjacent the hinge connection formed to press against the closure memberafter rotation thereof to a position of close proximity to saidelectrodes for biasing the segments away from the electrodes; androtatable locking devices mounted on both ends of said body portionformed to press against the cover member adjacent the hinge and on theprotrusion and overcome the bias of said spring to move said segmentssubstantially normal to and into intimate contact with the electrodes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hansonet a1. Feb. 3, 1959

